Plot Synopsis

THE ROYALS is an hour-long drama series that depicts the lives of a fictional monarchy in modern-day London, going behind the scenes of their luxurious gates where power is everything and scandals are everywhere. Helena, the polished and fierce Queen, poses to the public that her family is one of class and grace. Her sole daughter, Eleanor, however, tries her best to keep the Queen on her toes -- her rebellious nature puts the family's reputation on the brink of crumbling, as the tabloids document her unprincess-like behavior, which includes sex, drugs, and hung-over helicopter rides. While secretly longing for a more meaningful existence in her limitless world, the heiress still parties like only a princess can. King Simon, at the helm of the monarchy, works to keep his family afloat, but when tainted politics and dangerous relationships are involved, chaos and turmoil threaten to uproot the family tree. Meanwhile, Eleanor's twin brother, Prince Liam, is a playboy prince with the keys to the kingdom, taking full advantage of being one of the most sought after bachelors on the planet without the scrutiny his older brother Robert, the beloved heir to the throne, endures. All of that changes when Robert tragically passes away and Liam, the spare, becomes heir. Plus, Liam has fallen for Ophelia, the daughter of the head of the security for the Royals, causing her father, Ted, to merge his private and professional lives, which he worked so hard to keep separate. To make matters more complicated, Liam's socialite ex-girlfriend Gemma returns upon news of Robert's untimely death, and is relentless in her attempt to win Liam back from Ophelia. As the heiress of a diamond cartel, Gemma is refined, manipulative, and very clear about her desire to be on Liam's arm when he is crowned King. Meanwhile, Liam's hunger for a different life keeps his bodyguard and confidant Marcus hard at work, especially when he runs off with his best mate Ashok. Elsewhere in the palace, Cyrus, brother of King Simon, is lurking for a chance to steal the throne by doing anything, in his limited power, to take down the heirs one-by-one. While his power is restricted, his lack of a moral compass is not, even when it comes to his sexuality, jealousy and enlisting his dimwitted daughters, Maribel and Penelope, to do his bidding. Two months before the series premiere, E! announced on January 15, 2015 that it picked up THE ROYALS for a second season, beginning production in spring 2015 in London. Season 2 of THE ROYALS premiered on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT on E!. The second season picks up eight weeks after the tragic murder of King Simon by an unknown assailant. Cyrus, Simon's arrogant brother, has taken the throne after deeming the Prince and Princess illegitimate, with the help of the Queen to fabricate the paternity results. While Cyrus is convinced the Queen is on his side, her majesty has her own agenda in mind: change the succession of the Royal Family and make the power shift to the Queen if anything should happen to yet another King. Meanwhile, Liam vows to bring his father's murderer to justice and teams up with an unlikely ally to do so, the duplicitous bodyguard Jasper who had been relieved from his duties after sleeping with both the Princess and the Queen, and had once been considered a prime suspect in the King's attack that led to his death. However, the two young men, who are both working to mend their respective broken hearts, have bonded over their mutual concern for the Princess' wellbeing and seek to bring a common enemy to justice. While King Cyrus struggles to win over a country of people who despise him due to his inability to relate and general distain disdain for common society, Eleanor sinks further into despair as she searches to have a real connection with anyone despite her seemingly fairytale life as a princess. Her bodyguard blackmailed her and slept with her mother, her brother is locked in a vengeful tunnel vision, her mother just revealed her father isn't who she thought, the new King hates her, and the only person who ever believed in her was murdered with the last words he spoke to her being of his disappointment. Now, Eleanor finds solace in excessive amounts of booze, drugs and random sex, while still trying to navigate through the murky waters of real romance. Not since Marie Antoinette has there been so much anarchy in the monarchy. The 10-episode third season of THE ROYALS premiered on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on E!, with Elizabeth Hurley, William Moseley, Alexandra Park, Jake Maskall, Tom Austen, Genevieve Gaunt, and Rocky Marshall all returning for a new season. New faces joining the cast this season include series regular Max Brown, recurring guest star Jules Knight and guest star Damian Hurley, Elizabeth's son. Season 3 picks up two weeks after the execution of King Simon's murderer, Ted Pryce, the former head of the Royal Family's security. While vigilante justice appeared to be served when an angry mob took matters into their own hands and ended Ted's life after he robbed them of their beloved King Simon, the royal family is still struggling to reestablish themselves as worthy leaders of their people. Queen Helena is on a mission to prove that Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor are the legitimate heirs to the throne and the children of King Simon. However, Simon's brother and the current ruler of the monarch, King Cyrus will stop at nothing to ensure the Queen cannot prove the twins' paternity. Meanwhile, twins Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor are at the height of their fame -- so far. In fact, a mysterious #KingLiam hashtag has begun to take England by storm, calling for an uprising in support of the hero Prince. But Liam is plagued by Ted's controversial execution, and turns down a dark path to cope with his anger and resentment. Her brother's seedy behavior goes unnoticed by Princess Eleanor who is torn on what to do with her relationship with Jasper. On one-hand, she is undeniably in love with him. On the other-hand, before he fell in love with her, his plan was solely to seduce her and steal her fortune. Not exactly "perfect boyfriend" material. The news of Prince Robert's mysterious death shattered his family and the nation alike. Then, in the series' Season 2 finale, it was revealed that the presumed deceased Prince Robert was in fact still alive. Season 3 promises to answer the questions surrounding Prince Robert's disappearance and should he return, how it will impact his siblings, mother, and uncle as the rightful heir to the throne, lives. Season 4 of THE ROYALS premiered on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT on E!. The fourth season picks up after the charming, potentially duplicitous, Prince Robert is crowned King of England. Prince Liam and his recently dethroned uncle Cyrus form an unlikely alliance, Queen Helena struggles to control her unruly brood as she figures out her role in the palace. And, after a heated on again-off again relationship, bodyguard Jasper tries to capture Princess Eleanor's heart one more time just as they are about to face their biggest obstacle yet. In the season opener, "How Prodigal the Soul," Robert gains popularity on his coronation tour, while Jasper and Liam have information that could end his reign. Eleanor must choose between returning to Jasper or working abroad with Sebastian.
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On Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT, E! premiered "With Mirth in Funeral and with Dirge in Marriage," the Season 4 finale of THE ROYALS. The finale culminates in a day that will change the family and the nation forever. A burgeoning uprising has Robert suspicious of everyone, as the rest of the family unites to combat a formidable foe.